Protect Your Family Budget From the State Budget

This year’s legislative session has provided some major taxpayer victories and will soon wrap up. The focus will turn to next year and the opportunity for tax reform.

Last week Iowa Senate Republicans released details of an income tax reform plan but said they would wait until next year’s legislative session to pursue the changes. There plan would:

Reduce the number of tax brackets from nine to three

Lower the top rate from 8.98% to 5.65%

Phase out federal deductibility

Increase amount of pension income that is tax exempt

Eliminate the alternative minimum tax

Slow the growth of tax credits

Provide $500 million in tax relief by 2022

In an interview with Rod Boshart of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Senator Randy Feenstra, chairman of the Ways and Means committee, said, “We believe that how you grow the economy is to lower rates. Once you lower rates, that should drive the economy, injecting more revenue coming into the state.”

Iowans for Tax Relief has long supported the ability of Iowa taxpayers to deduct all federal income tax payments on their Iowa income tax returns. Over the years there have been many attempts to remove federal deductibility combined with other adjustments to the income tax model. Some income tax reform plans have attempted to be revenue neutral, although they would shift the distribution of the tax burden. On paper, such a proposal can look inviting. However, in practice, removing the key taxpayer protection of federal deductibility could lead to higher income taxes. Iowans for Tax Relief will study and research the impact this new plan has on taxes owed by Iowans across all income levels.

Lowering tax rates along with reduced spending will provide numerous benefits for the state. John Hendrickson of the Public Interest Institue wrote in a recent publication, “In fact states that have perused tax and spending reform have not only made improvements in economic growth, but it also has allowed for additional support to vital state programs such as education.”

However, these improvements could be short-lived if permanent protections are not in place to prevent future legislators from simply raising tax rates. Hendrickson went on to write, “Taxpayers in Iowa deserve more constitutional protection from excessive taxation and a constitutional amendment requiring a super-majority vote of the legislature to increase taxes would be an additional protection for taxpayers.”

Yes, Iowans do deserve permanent protection! Iowans for Tax Relief has long supported two constitutional amendments to control spending and taxes:

Limit spending. Iowa law currently limits spending to 99% of the revenue estimate. However, legislators have created holes in the law and at times have spent over the limit. The best solution to this problem is a constitutional amendment that would offer permanent protection. A proposed amendment limiting spending to 99% of the estimated revenue or 104% of the current fiscal year net revenue received bi-partisan support when approved by the Iowa Senate. The Iowa House has not acted upon the resolution.

Limit tax increases. An amendment to Iowa’s constitution that requires the votes of 60% of all members of both Houses of the Iowa legislature to pass any new state tax or any increase in the state income tax, sales tax, or use tax, would prevent most tax increases and protect your family budget. Making it harder for politicians to raise your taxes is a common-sense protection.

These two amendments would place responsible limits on government and provide flexibility to handle emergencies. Government growth should be at a slower rate than people’s income. Shrink the government’s share, so you can keep a bigger share of what you earn!

To amend the Iowa Constitution through a legislative initiative, an amendment resolution must receive a simple majority in both the House and Senate from two successive Iowa General Assemblies and then be approved by a majority of Iowa voters. Iowa voters have previously amended our constitution 48 times.

Iowa is fortunate to have many good, pro-taxpayer legislators in Des Moines for another year. Together we can put the state’s budget on a solid foundation and protect family budgets for the future.